Marking instrument

ABSTRACT

A marking instrument having a casing with a plurality of marking units within the casing. Means are provided for positioning and maintaining the leading marking unit in the casing in a position where it partially extends from the casing permitting normal use of the unit. The leading unit, when used up, can be removed from the casing and replaced with a fresh marking unit. Improved means are provided for detachably connecting the units together so that they move in unison toward one end of the casing as a leading marking unit is withdrawn.

United States Patent Kolomeir 1 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] MARKING INSTRUMENT [76] Inventor: Frank Nathan Kolom'elr, 6622 Parkview Road, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: Nov. 30, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 93,729

[52] US. Cl ..401/57, 401/90 [51] Int. Cl. ..B43k 21/16 [58] Field of Search ..401/49, 57, 82, 84, 85, 96,

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,378,174 5/1921 Kaiser ..401/57 X 3,338,215 8/1967 Fu Chiu et al ..401/82 499,191 6/1893 Fornander ....401/94 618,172 ll1899 Goldsmith ....401/82 2,942,577 6/1960 Solow ..401/97 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 77,233 10/1893 Germany ..401/57 Primary ExamineF-Lawrence Charles Attorney-Alan Swabey [5 7] ABSTRACT A marking instrument having a casing with a plurality of marking units within the casing. Means are pro vided for positioning and maintaining the leading marking unit in the casing in a position where it partially extends from the casing permitting normal use of the unit. The leading unit, when used up, can be removed from the casing and replaced with a fresh marking unit. Improved means are provided for detachably connecting the units together so that they move in unison toward one end of the casing as a leading marking unit is withdrawn.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MARKING INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved marking instrument.

' The invention is particularly directed toward an improved marking instrument of the type which comprises a casing carrying a plurality of serially arranged, identical, marking units. Each marking unit includes a marking means at one end thereof. The marking means can comprise lead, crayon or ink, for example. Each marking unit in the casing is adapted to be moved in sequence to a marking position at one end of the casing from where it partially projects so its marking means can be used. When the marking means in the first marking unit at the marking position is used up, the

first unit can be removed from the casing. The following marking unit is then moved into the marking position to provide a fresh marking means, which projects from the one end of the casing. The procedure is repeated until all the unused marking units have been used up.

2. Description of the Prior Art Marking instruments of the type described above are known, as shown, for example, in US. Pat. No. 3,338,215, issued Aug. 29, I967, Chao Fu Chiu et al., inventors. Instruments of the type shown in the patent, however, have the disadvantage in that the first of leading marking unit at the marking position can inadvertently fall out of the casing since no positive locking means are provided at the marking position. In addition, the leading marking unit can occasionally be pushed back into the casing during operation since the locking means at the rear of the casing for preventing this are not always effective. The instrument has a further disadvantage in that, when the first marking unit, at the marking position, is used up and removed from the casing, its removal will not automatically permit a second marking unit to be moved into the marking position. Instead, the removed unit must be returned to the rear of the casing to indirectly push, through series connection of the units, the second unit, following the first unit, into marking position. If one marking unit is inadvertently lost, the marking instrument becomes inoperative when it is time to move a fresh marking unit into marking position since the fresh unit cannot then be indirectly pushed into position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art in providing improved, cooperating means, on each marking unit and at the front end of the casing, to position and maintain the first or leading marking unit, which partially projects from the front end of the casing, in a location where the marking means can be effectively used. With these improved means, the leading unit cannot be readily moved either forward or backward, thus preventing loss of the unit from the casing, and at the same time, holding the unit in position so that it will not move back into the casing when the marking instrument is being used.

The present invention can, if desired, incorporate a further improvement by having the marking units connected together by improved, cooperating means so that upon removal of the first marking unit, when used up, movement of all the remaining marking units in the casing will be automatically effected, in unison, toward the front of the casing whereby the unit following the first marking unit can be moved into a position where its marking means can be properly used.

The invention is particularly directed toward a markcooperate to locate and hold each of the units, when it partially projects from the front end of the casing, in a position where its marking means can be normally used.

In addition, a first holding means can be provided on each marking unit, as well as a second holding means, spaced from said first holding means. The first holding means on each unit cooperates with the second holding means on each following unit to hold the plurality of units in the casing in linked relation permitting all of the units to be moved in unison toward the front end of the casing when a first unit, partially projecting from the front end of the casing, is withdrawn from the casing. The improved marking instrument is particularly suitable as a pencil, and the following description of the preferred embodiment will be directed toward its use as a pencil. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be equally adapted for use, for example, as a crayon; a pen, with each marking unit having marking means in the form of an ink cartridge; as well as other marking instruments, such as styluses, where wear is a factor; or cosmetic pencils.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the improved marking instrument;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front end of the casing of the marking instrument in detail;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional detailed view showing the manner of holding the marking units together;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front end of the marking instrument with the marking units in the casing; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional detailed view showing a further embodiment of the invention incorporation an improved closure for the rear end of the marking instrument.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS be grooved, as shown at 15, and of sufficient length to permit it to be easily gripped between the fingers of the instrument user. A marking means 17 is fixed in an.

axial bore 19 in projection 11 and projects therefrom. As shown in FIG. 3, the marking means 17 can comprise a short piece of sharpened lead 21. The projection 11 has a diameter D; which is less than the diameter D, of the body 9. An axial recess or bore 23 can extend into the body from its other end 25 to permit loose nesting of'the writing units 7 within the casing. The recess 23 has a length sufficient to receive the lead 218 and projection 11B of a following unit 78, as shown in FIG. 3. I

First positioning means 27 are provided on each unit 7 to cooperate with second positioning means 29 at the front end 31 of the casing 3 so as to position and hold the leading unit 7 in the proper marking position, whereby the lead 21 projecting therefrom can be properly employed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first positioning means 27 on each writing unit 7 comprises a groove 33 circumscribing the body 9 and locatednear the front end 13 of the body. The groove 33 is shaped to form a stop surface or shoulder 35 which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 9, and has a diameter D, at its base which is greater than the diameter D of the projection.

The second positioning means 29 comprises a series of resilient finger members 37 formed by cutting slots 39 in the wall of the casing which extend in an axial direction from the front end 31 of the casing toward the rear. The free ends 41 of the fingers 37 extend radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the casing, defining an opening 43 having a diameter D which is less than normal outer diameter D of body 9 but substantially the same as diameter D defining the base of groove 33. The finger members 37 may be formed integral with the casing 3 or, as shown in FIG. 2, may be formed in a separate tubular member 45. The member 45 is threadably mounted in the front end of the casing 3.

The writing units 7, 7B, 7C, etc. are loaded into the bore 5 of the casing from the open end in loose nesting relation. The bore 5 has a diameter D, slightly larger than the diameter D of each unit. The projection 11 of each following unit fits loosely in the recess 23 of each preceding unit, withthe lead 218 of each following unit freely received in the recess. The units slide down within the casing until front end 13 of the body of the first unit abuts the ends of the fingers 37. In this position, the lead 21 and the projection 11 of the first writing unit 7 project from the front end 31 of the casing through opening 43. The projection 11 may then be grasped by the fingers to pull the front portion of the body of the first or leading writing unit 7 past the ends 41 of the resilient fingers 37.-The fingers 37 move outwardly to permit passage of the first leading portion of the body past the ends of the fingers until the groove 33 is aligned with the ends of the fingers. The leading part of the front portion of the body 9 can be chamfered as shown at 47 to assist in moving the fingers 37 outwardly by a camming action. The finger ends 41 then snap into the groove 33 to hold and maintain the leading unit 7 in the proper writing position. The ends of the fingers 37 abut against the stop surface 35 of the leading writing unit 7 to prevent it from being moved back into the casing when using the instrument. The ends 41 of the fingers 37, located in the groove 33, also prevent the leading unit 7 from dropping out of the pencil when it is not being used.

As the lead 21 in the first writing unit 7 is worn down, the first writing unit 7 can be removed from the casing by grasping its projection 11 and pulling the remainder of its body portion past the fingers and away from the casing. The casing can then be moved to a vertical position to cause the leading unit of the remaining marking units 73, 7C, etc. to move or slide toward the front end until its body portion 98 abuts the ends of the fingers. The projection 11B of this unit extends from the casing through opening 43 whereby it can be grasped and pulled out until the fingers snap in its groove 338 to properly position it. The first worn writing unit 7 can now either be disposed of, or if desired, returned through the rear end 49 of the casing. The rear end of the casing can be closed by an eraser or plug (not shown) to maintain the unused and used writing units therein.

It is is desired to employ the maximum length of the casing for holding writing units, the eraser or plug can be dispensed with and the writing units can be provided in sufficient number to substantially fill the casing with the last unit at the rear of the casing, as shown in FIG. 5. lf no plug or eraser is used, a suitable, flexible stop means could be located at the rear end of the casing to prevent any writing units from falling out of the rear end of the casing.

If desired, the units 7, 78, etc. can be constructed to be detachably connected together in series fashion within the casing. This permits each unused following unit to be automatically moved to the proper marking position on removal of the used-up, leading marking unit from the casing.

To detachably connect the units together, the rear wall 51 of the body 9 of each unit 7, defined by the recess 23, has a plurality of slots 53 which extend part way along in the wall from the rear end 25 of the body toward the front end 13. The normal diameter D; of recess 23 in each unit is made slightly smaller than the outer diameter D, of the projection l l. The units 7, 78, etc. are then connected together by inserting the projection of each following unit into the recess of each leading unit. The projection 113, being slightly larger in diameter than the recess, jams into the recess 23 at the rear of the body 9 of the preceding unit, and the slotted rear wall51 moves outwardly to assume, at end 25, a diameter D The body 9 is made of suitable, resilient plastic material to' permit the rear wall 51 to move outwardly and clamp the projection 118 to hold the units together. The front end 13B of each following unit acts'as a stop when the following unit is'connected into the preceding unit. I v

The series of detachably interconnected writing units 7, 7B, 7C, etc. are now inserted from the rear 49 of the casing 3 into the bore 5. The diameter D, of bore 5 is slightly greater than the diameter D, of the rear end of each interconnected unit. The units are moved in unison through the casing until the projection 11 of the first unit 7 projects past the fingers 37 through opening .43 as before. A pull on the projection 11 moves the first unit 7, together with theremaining units, to a position where the finger ends 41 snap in the groove 33. When the first unit 7 is used up and removed, the remaining units move in unison toward the front end as a result of the interconnection between the rear of each leading unit and the front of each trailing unit. The clamping action applied by the slotted wall 51 at the rear of the body of each leading unit is sufficient to permit all the units to move in unison toward the front of the casing as the first leading unit 7 is removed therefrom. As the leading unit 7 is removed, the lead and the projection of the following unit 78 move to a position through opening 43 and project past the ends 41 of the fingers of the casing. The ends 41 of the fingers 37 then abut on the chamfered portion 61 of the body 9 of unit 78 stopping further forward movement of the remaining units. Leading unit 7 pulls free of unit 78 and the exposed projection 11B is now grasped to pull the unit 7B slightly farther from the casing until the fingers 37 snap into place on the groove 338, thus positioning the following writing unit 7B in a position where the instrument can be properly employed.

The used units can be returned to the casing from the rear as before. To maintain the units in the casing, an end member 55 can be provided, threadably connected to end 49 of the casing and having a bore 57 of slightly less diameter D than the diameter D, of the rear portion of the body of each writing unit when expanded through the insertion, in its recess, of the projection of a following writing unit. The diameter D of bore 57 is, however, slightly greater than the normal diameter D, of the body 9. The last unit inserted expands the rear end of the preceding unit. The expanded end 25 has a diameter D greater than D; and acts as a stop, abutting shoulder 59 of member 55, thus preventing some of the units, if separated within the casing, from falling out of the rear of the casing.

While specific means have been described for detachably connecting the writing units together in series, other suitable means can be used provided these means hold sufficiently to permit the units to move in unison as they are pulled forwardly in the casing through the withdrawal of the leading writing unit. Similarly, while a specific collar and finger member arrangement has been described for positioning and maintaining the leading writing unit in proper writing position, other suitable locking means can be provided. Also, while the instrument has been described to have a through bore 5, a blind bore could be used with the units loaded from the front upon removal of front closure member 45.

I claim: I

l. A marking instrument including a casing having a front and rear end, a plurality of identical marking units in-the casing, each marking unit having a main body member and marker means connected to and projecting axially from one end of the main body member, and resilient means at the front end of the casing positively cooperating with the main body member of the first of the units partially projecting from the front end of the casing, a stop surface on the main body member of each marking unit intermediate its ends, and said resilient means comprising at least one resilient member on the casing at the front end thereof for engaging the stop surface to prevent the first writing unit from moving back into the casing during use of the instrument.

. A marking instrument as claimed lll claim 1,

wherein the main body member of each marking unit is cylindrical and has a groove circumscribing the body and located between the ends of the body, said groove defining a stop surface, said resilient means comprising resilient finger members at the front end of said casing defining a bore having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the body of each marking unit, the free ends of each finger member extending inwardly to define an opening having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the body and substantially equal to the diameter of the groove, the ends of the finger members cooperating with the stop surface, when in the groove, to prevent said first writing unit from moving back into said casing, or from falling out of said casing.

3. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 2, including an axial, cylindrical projection extending from the one end of said cylindrical body member, said projection having a diameter less than the diameter of the opening defined by the free ends of the fingers, said marking means fixed to the projection to extend axially therefrom. v

4. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 1, including first holding means on each marking unit, second holding means on each marking unit and spaced from said first holding means, the first holding means on each unit cooperating with the second holding means on each following unit to hold said plurality of units in linked relation with a force permitting all the units to be moved in unison toward the front end of the casing when a first unit, partially projecting from the front end of the casing, is withdrawn from the casing.

5. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first holding means comprises a recess formed in the other end of each main body member opposite the end from which the marker means projects, said recess having a length sufficient to receive the marking means of the following marker unit.

6. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second holding means on each marking unit includes a cylindrical projection extending from said one end of each marking unit body member, said marking means fixed to and extending axially from said projection.

7. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 6, wherein the projecting member and the recess are cylindrical, the projecting member having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the recess, and slots in each body member of the marking units extending from the other end toward the one end permitting the recess in each body member to enlarge to receive the projecting member of a following unit.

8. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 7, in cluding means at the rear end of the casing defining a stop which cooperates with the other end of the body member of a marking unit, when its recess is enlarged, to maintain the marking unit within the casing. 

1. A marking instrument including a casing having a front and rear end, a plurality of identical marking units in the casing, each marking unit having a main body member and marker means connected to and projecting axially from one end of the main body member, and resilient means at the front end of the casing positively cooperating with the main body member of the first of the units partially projecting from the front end of the casing, a stop surface on the main body member of each marking unit intermediate its ends, and said resilient means comprising at least one resilient member on the casing at the front end thereof for engaging the stop surface to prevent the first writing unit from moving back into the casing during use of the instrument.
 2. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body member of each marking unit is cylindrical and has a groove circumscribing the body and located between the ends of the body, said groove defining a stop surface, said resilient means comprising resilient finger members at the front end of said casing defining a bore having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the body of each marking unit, the free ends of each finger member extending inwardly to define an opening having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the body and substantially equal to the diameter of the groove, the ends of the finger members cooperating with the stop surface, when in the groove, to prevent said first writing unit from moving back into said casing, or from falling out of said casing.
 3. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 2, including an axial, cylindrical projection extending from the one end of said cylindrical body member, said projection having a diameter less than the diameter of the opening defined by the free ends of the fingers, said marking means fixed to the projection to extend axially therefrom.
 4. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 1, including first holding means on each marking unit, second holding means on each marking unit and spaced from said first holding means, the first holding means on each unit cooperating with the second holding means on each following unit to hold said plurality of units in linked relation with a force permitting all the units to be moved in unison toward the front end of the casing when a first unit, partially projecting from the front end of the casing, is withdrawn from the casing.
 5. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first holding means comprises a recess formed in the other end of each main body member opposite the end from which the marker means projects, said recess having a length sufficient to receive the marking means of the following marker unit.
 6. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second holding means on each marking unit includes a cylindrical projection extending from said one end of each marking unit body member, said marking means fixed tO and extending axially from said projection.
 7. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 6, wherein the projecting member and the recess are cylindrical, the projecting member having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the recess, and slots in each body member of the marking units extending from the other end toward the one end permitting the recess in each body member to enlarge to receive the projecting member of a following unit.
 8. A marking instrument as claimed in claim 7, including means at the rear end of the casing defining a stop which cooperates with the other end of the body member of a marking unit, when its recess is enlarged, to maintain the marking unit within the casing. 